Written Answers

Friday 28 April 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or has any plans to conduct an assessment of the effect on agriculture of its implementation of EC regulations.

Ross Finnie: Our guiding principles are the need to comply properly with EC regulations whilst ensuring that we do not impose any unnecessary or unreasonable burden on the agriculture industry.

  All EU regulations, which impact on producers, were the subject of detailed scrutiny by a recent Red Tape Review panel of industry representatives. The panel investigated the perception that the UK over-interprets EC regulations and applies them more stringently than other members states but concluded this was not the case.

Cancer

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider launching a public health campaign to help men better understand the treatments available for prostate cancer.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is aware of the threat to male health which prostate cancer can pose, but there is no clear consensus internationally on the best way to treat prostate cancer. The issues involved in improving the care of those with prostate cancer are being actively considered by the Lead Clinician for Cancer Services and the Scottish Cancer Group. Meanwhile, anyone worried about symptoms, which might be suggestive of this type of cancer, should seek medical advice.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to improve cancer outcomes and survival rates.

Susan Deacon: Improvements in survival from cancer are already evident. For example, five-year survival from breast cancer is now 75%, compared to 66% in the 1980s. In men with testicular cancer, more than 90% are alive after five years.

  The Scottish Executive is determined to continue to tackle the challenges posed by cancer in all its forms and cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland.

  A great deal of work is already underway ranging from health promotion, earlier detection, improved treatment and care through to palliative and terminal care.

  This includes a continuing commitment to breast and cervical screening and a pilot programme of colorectal cancer screening. Led by the Scottish Cancer Group, cancer-specific managed clinical networks are being set in place. Underpinned by robust quality assurance/prospective audit systems and committed to sharing good practice for the benefit of patients across the country, the focus of these networks is on continuous quality improvements in patient care. Additional one stop clinics are being established and the reduction of waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment is a high priority for the Scottish Cancer Group. Clinical standards for cancer services – developed in collaboration with patients and carers – will be piloted during spring/summer 2000 by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland.

Civil Service

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its statement at the Highlands and Islands Convention represents a change in its policy on the dispersal of civil service jobs; if not, whether it will make announcements about the dispersal of civil service jobs within a specified time period, and whether it will set a target for the number of civil service jobs which should be dispersed.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive’s policy on the location and the relocation of civil service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in the answer given to Mr Duncan McNeil MSP, for question S1W-1558, on 15 September 1999.

Drug Misuse

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the funding available to local authority social work departments and NHS health boards for the aftercare and support of drug and alcohol abusers recovering from addiction.

Iain Gray: Spending on drug treatment by health boards is being boosted by £6 million over a three-year period, bringing annual spend to over £11 million. This represents a 20% rise on previous levels. This funding is distributed via individual health boards.

  Funding for services for drug and alcohol misusers is also provided via local authorities. They received increases of £51.3 million (4.9%) for 1999-2000 and £43.4 million for 2000-01, in each case over the previous year, for social work services. Funding to health boards for the provision of services for alcohol misuse and to local authorities for either drug misuse or alcohol misuse treatment services are not earmarked.

Drug Misuse

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authority social work departments and NHS health boards on residential treatment for drug and alcohol abusers.

Iain Gray: Guidance on residential treatment for drug and alcohol abusers is contained in the following publications.

  Alcohol Misuse: Prevention and Local Co-ordination to health boards and local authorities (NHS Circular No 1989 (GEN)28).

  Alcohol Misuse: Support for Local Co-ordination and Innovative Projects to health boards and local authorities (NHS Circular No 1992 (GEN) 10).

  The Needs of People with Alcohol and Drug Problems Within Community Care to local authorities (SWSG Circular 14/1993).

  Planning and Provision of Drug Misuse Services to health boards and local authorities as (NHS MEL (1997)77 and SWSG Circular 32/1997).

  A Guide to the Development of Services for Alcohol and Drug Misusers published by the Scottish Office Central Research Unit (1997).

Drug Misuse

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1175 by Iain Gray on 17 February 2000, whether it intends to increase any further the funding available to local authority social work departments and NHS health boards for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction over the next three years.

Iain Gray: As I advised Dr Murray in my answer to S10-1175 and S1W-5979, spending on drug treatment services by health boards has been boosted by £6 million over a three-year period to 2002, bringing the annual spend to £11.352 million. This represents a 20% rise on previous levels. The level of funding available to health boards for drug misuse services beyond the current financial year will be decided within the context of this year’s spending round.

  Funding for services for drug and alcohol addiction is also provided via local authorities. They received increases of £51.3 million (4.9%) for 1999-2000 and £43.4 million for 2000-01, in each case over the previous year, for social work services. However, as I have previously indicated in response to earlier questions, funding to health boards for the provision of services for alcohol misuse, and to local authorities for either the treatment services of drug or alcohol addiction are not earmarked.

Equal Opportunities

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in developing its equality strategy and programme of action.

Jackie Baillie: Following the debate on 2 December 1999 and the Parliament’s endorsement of the Executive’s statement Towards an Equality Strategy: a Framework , the Executive undertook a consultation exercise to assist it in developing its strategy. Formal consultation closed on 4 April and 184 responses have been received. An interim report describing who has responded to the consultation is available in SPICe. The Executive welcomes the interest taken and is grateful for all the responses sent in.

  A more detailed analysis of the responses is now being undertaken. Responses to the consultation will be made publicly available. This final report of the consultation will be made available to Parliament in June and submitted to the Equal Opportunities Committee for its consideration. The Executive would like to receive the views of the Equal Opportunities Committee prior to finalising its strategy and programme of action.

  The Executive also intends to hold further discussion with equality interests in the summer.

  The Executive will publish its equality strategy and programme of action for report to Parliament in September.

European Funding

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the plans for the new round of European Structural Funds (2000-06) to be approved by the European Commission.

Mr Jack McConnell: While I expect the plans for the Highlands and Islands Special Programme and for the Objective 3 Operational Programme to be approved in June, this is dependent upon the European Commission. The plans for the Objective 2 programmes will not be approved until later in the year.

European Funding

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, CoSLA or the Association of Scottish Colleges expressing concern that no interim funding arrangements have been put in place between the end of existing European Social Fund programmes and the start of a new programme for 2000 to 2006.

Mr Jack McConnell: Yes, I have responded to those representations by announcing to the European Committee that I proposed to put in place a guarantee in relation to the funding gap for a number of voluntary organisations sponsoring European Social Fund projects. I have asked officials to bring forward as a matter of urgency recommendations as to how such a scheme should work.

Executive Accommodation

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter accommodation or build new accommodation for any of its existing or proposed departments.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to build new accommodation. Significant alterations to accommodation are taking place in St Andrew’s House, which is being refurbished, and in the fit-out of a new leased building, the Europa Building, in Glasgow. A range of minor accommodation changes take place every year to match office layouts to Departmental requirements.

  Option appraisals will also take place on the replacement of temporary accommodation in Stornoway which is approaching the end of its useful life, and leases which are coming to an end in Perth.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the undiscounted cost to the Scottish budget is of servicing each PFI contract which the Executive and its predecessors have entered into over the entirety of each contract, in total and by each contract agreed.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has three PFI contracts for which it is responsible. They are:

  Skye Bridge

  M6 DBFO

  Kilmarnock Prison.

  The Scottish Executive does not make service payments for Skye Bridge.

  The undiscounted cost of the PFI service payments (i.e. revenue commitments) in cash terms, excluding VAT and rounded to the nearest £ million for M6DBFO and Kilmarnock Prison are:

  


 


M6DBFO
  

Kilmarnock Prison
  



1997-98
  

2
  






1998-99
  

3
  






1999-2000
  

21
  

17
  



2000-01
  

22
  

15
  



2001-02
  

20
  

15
  



2002-03
  

21
  

15
  



2003-04
  

23
  

16
  



2004-05
  

21
  

16
  



2005-06
  

20
  

16
  



2006-07
  

21
  

17
  



2007-08
  

23
  

17
  



2008-09
  

20
  

18
  



2009-10
  

23
  

18
  



2010-11
  

27
  

19
  



2011-12
  

27
  

19
  



2012-13
  

28
  

20
  



2013-14
  

29
  

21
  



2014-15
  

31
  

21
  



2015-16
  

40
  

22
  



2016-17
  

44
  

17
  



2017-18
  

37
  

18
  



2018-19
  

32
  

19
  



2019-20
  

35
  

19
  



2020-21
  

35
  

20
  



2021-22
  

34
  

19
  



2022-23
  

25
  

20
  



2023-24
  

7
  

20
  



2024-25
  

8
  






2025-26
  

9
  






2026-27
  

9
  






2027-28
  

8
  






  The total undiscounted commitment for M6DBFO is £705 million.

  The total undiscounted commitment for Kilmarnock Prison is £454 million.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a strategy to identify and address the needs of mothers with post-natal depression.

Susan Deacon: Guidance was issued in March 1999 to the NHS and local authorities on Services for Women with Postnatal Depression . This offered advice on identification and the best organisation of multi-agency care and support for mothers and their families, and placed emphasis on the physical and mental well-being of mothers and children.

  I also announced on 1 February that the Scottish Executive intended to work with relevant interests in the development of a National Framework for Maternity Services. Work on this is now underway and will include consideration of post-natal care and support.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to integrate the NHSiS with the voluntary sector in relation to medical research.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive recognises and encourages the valuable contribution that the voluntary sector makes in raising funds for and in commissioning medical research. We are also committed to ensuring that our agencies, non-departmental public bodies and the NHSiS actively encourage and promote the work of the voluntary sector. As an example of this, the Chief Scientist’s office is currently funding a small research project to the value of over £8,000 on enhancing the relationship between health voluntary organisations and the NHSiS.

  The Scottish Executive has no plans, however, for the integration of the NHSiS with the voluntary sector in relation to medical research.

Holyrood Project

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all ancillary activities to the Holyrood Parliament Building that are being funded by other public bodies, including landscaping and road realignment, and the costs of each of these activities.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive intends to fund landscaping and road activities adjacent to the Holyrood Parliament building site, and this work will mainly be undertaken through Historic Scotland. Firm cost estimates for these activities are not yet available, and will be determined in the light of finalisation of the Holyrood design.

International Organisations

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the international organisations outwith the European Community or European Union (a) from which it receives regular correspondence, (b) which consult the Executive about their activities or proposals, (c) in whose activities members of the Executive have participated and (d) about whose activities or proposals the Executive has been consulted by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr Jim Wallace: My colleagues and I are in touch with such international organisations as circumstances and the demands of our portfolios require. We would be happy to consider requests for more specific information on any particular organisation or area of activity.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether "the abolition of section 94 consents for general services alone would immediately release around £360 million within the assigned budget", as stated by CoSLA in its Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2000 briefing document, and, if not, why not.

Mr Jack McConnell: The capital spending of authorities would remain public expenditure even if the requirement for local authorities to have the consent of Scottish Ministers to undertake capital spending were abolished. This would have to be reflected in public spending totals, which would not themselves change. In these circumstances, an adjustment to the assigned budget to reflect the changed treatment of local authority capital spending may be appropriate, and consequently there may be no net benefit to the Assigned Budget or, ultimately, local authority spending.

Modernising Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans "to put the citizen at the centre of what it does" as stated by Mr Jack McConnell at the CoSLA conference 2000 on March 24 2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: In our Programme for Government , we made a commitment to work across the Executive to promote modern government, of which one of the main themes would be customer-focused policy development and service delivery.

  We will put the citizen at the centre through our commitment to inclusive policy-making, and civic participation in all its forms. The public can make a real contribution to better policies at both local and national level. We are encouraging that contribution through our support for the Scottish Civic Forum, through the £3 million Listening to Communities programme, through the £10 million Working for Communities programme and through the increasing use of the possibilities offered by the Internet.

  We will also work across the public sector to deliver citizen-focused services that are provided in such a way as to meet the needs of the citizens, not the convenience of the service provider. In particular, we will seek to overcome obstacles to joined-up working through a variety of means, and will seek to involve and meet the needs of all different groups in society. For example, the First Minister announced on 30 March his decision that the Executive’s target for delivery of 100% of its services online by 2008 was being brought forward to 2005. At a practical level, I recently announced the £25 million Modernising Government Fund, which is designed to help take forward projects involving the innovative provision of improved public services, and particularly encourages partnership working.

Parliamentary Questions

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer my questions S1W-5738 and S1W-5739, lodged on 30 March 2000.

Henry McLeish: These questions were answered on 27 April.

Public Sector Pay

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average increase in public sector pay has been in cash terms in each year since 1945, or the earliest year for which figures are available.

Mr Jack McConnell: Average gross weekly earnings of employees working in the public sector in Scotland are available from 1986. The following table shows average annual increases since this date. The figures are compiled on a snapshot basis in April each year and estimates of annual changes can be affected by a range of factors including variations in the timing of pay settlements from year to year.

  

 

Increase in gross 
  weekly earnings1
(£)




1986-87
  

10.6
  



1987-88
  

12.4
  



1988-89
  

25.9
  



1989-90
  

9.1
  



1990-91
  

19.0
  



1991-92
  

9.4
  



1992-93
  

18.9
  



1993-94
  

5.6
  



1994-95
  

7.9
  



1995-96
  

7.9
  



1996-97
  

8.9
  



1997-98
  

8.8
  



1998-99
  

16.8
  



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates relate to all employees on adult rates, whose pay for the survey period was unaffected by absence.

Scotland Act

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish Notes on Sections of the Scotland Act 1998.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive continues to work on the preparation of Notes on Sections to the Scotland Act 1998. These will be published as soon as possible, having regard to work demands in other high priority areas. The Notes on Sections will provide an update to the Notes on Clauses published in January and July 1998. Copies will be made available in SPICe once work is complete.

Section 2A

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on the basis of what mandate it proposes to repeal section 2A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1986.

Mr Frank McAveety: Repeal of section 2A has been longstanding policy of both Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.

Section 2A

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it first set out its policy intention to repeal section 2A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1986, in what forum or publication did it set its policy intention out and whether there are any implications in constitutional law of how, when and where it set out its policy.

Mr Frank McAveety: Jackie Baillie, Deputy Minister for Communities, set out the policy position on repeal of section 2A to the Equal Opportunities Committee on 28 September 1999 and the Executive subsequently set out its case for the repeal in the consultation paper Standards in Public Life: Consultation on the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Bill.

  We are not aware that the manner in which the Executive announced its policy has any implications in constitutional law.

Section 2A

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what communication or discussion it has had with the Electoral Reform Society or Electoral Reform Service Balloting in connection with the proposed postal referendum on the issue of section 2A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1986.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought to persuade or influence the Electoral Reform Society or Electoral Reform Services Balloting against the society’s instruction to hold a postal referendum on the issue of section 2A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1986 and, if so, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre copies of any correspondence, or fully describe and detail the contact or communication which has taken place.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive made no representations to the Electoral Reform Society or Electoral Reform Service Balloting in connection with the proposed postal referendum on the issue of section 2A.

Smoking

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates is being spent by the NHS in Scotland annually on smoking cessation treatments.

Susan Deacon: Approximately £1 million a year is spent by health boards on health promotion activities specifically aimed at reducing smoking. Following the publication of the White Paper on tobacco control Smoking Kills , an additional £3 million over three years from 1999 was allocated to health boards to spend on smoking cessation services and Nicotine Replacement Therapy. These resources are targeted at areas of social deprivation.

  In addition, the Scottish Executive is working with key agencies to implement the measures laid out in Smoking Kills and provides financial support to a range of other bodies, such as the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) and ASH (Scotland) who actively promote measures on smoking cessation.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave to rail alternatives, in particular the reopening of the Bilston Glen line, when considering proposals for the A701.

Sarah Boyack: There are no rail alternatives relevant to the A701 proposal. In making a decision on the Notice of Intention to Develop, the public transport issues identified in the structure plan were taken into account.

Water Charges

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the concerns of the Scottish fish processing industry about the impact on the industry and the jobs it provides of the latest changes to the North of Scotland Water Authority effluent and water charges by introducing a new mechanism for capital investment cost recovery by water authorities.

Sarah Boyack: North of Scotland Water Authority, in common with the other two Scottish water authorities, is committed to a significant capital investment programme to meet exacting standards of wastewater discharge and drinking water quality. This will deliver essential improvements to public health and the environment for the Scottish people.

  I am aware of the Scottish fish processing industry’s concerns over water and trade effluent charges made by the North of Scotland Water Authority. In relation to effluent charges, all of the water authorities have been moving towards full cost recovery, on the "polluter pays" principle. To do otherwise would result in other water charge-paying sectors subsidising certain areas of industry, and that would be neither fair nor equitable. I understand that North of Scotland Water Authority has made a number of adjustments to its charges scheme in order to help the fish processing industry.

  The authorities’ capital and operating costs are met by a combination of borrowing consents from central government and income from customer revenues. I do not consider that a new mechanism for capital investment cost recovery provides a means of addressing the fish processors’ concerns.